Biology Biodiversity & Conservation part 8 (Loss of biodiversity) class 12 XII | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Loss of biodiversity and species extinction are caused by factors like habitat loss, overexploitation by humans, invasion by alien species, and coextinction.

Key Insights

• 🌸 Loss of habitat, caused by activities like deforestation, is a major contributor to species extinction.
• 🥺 Overexploitation of resources by humans, driven by increasing population and commercial interests, leads to the extinction of certain species.
• 👽 Invasion by alien species can disrupt ecosystems and result in the extinction of native species.
• ❓ Coextinction occurs when two species that are interdependent become extinct together.
• 🌲 Human activities, such as cutting down trees for wood or land for agriculture, contribute to the loss of habitat and species extinction.
• ❓ Pollution can also destroy habitats and make them unsuitable for certain species to survive.
• 🥺 Commercial interests often prioritize the survival of economically important species, leading to the extinction of less commercially viable species.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What is the difference between an aquarium and a real ecosystem when it comes to species extinction?

In an aquarium, the addition and subtraction of fish are under human control, but in a real ecosystem, removing species is under human control while adding species is not. This makes the extinction of species in a real ecosystem irreversible.

Q: How does loss of habitat contribute to species extinction?

Loss of habitat, often caused by human activities like deforestation, destroys the homes of many animals. Without suitable habitats, these species cannot survive, leading to their extinction.

Q: How does overexploitation by humans result in species extinction?

Due to increasing human population and commercial interests, resources are overexploited. This can lead to the extinction of certain species as their habitats are destroyed and their populations decline.

Q: How does the invasion of alien species contribute to species extinction?

When alien species are introduced into an ecosystem, they can either prey on existing species or compete with them for resources. This can lead to the extinction of native species as they are unable to withstand the competition or predation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Loss of habitat is a common cause of species extinction, often caused by human activities like deforestation and pollution.

• Overexploitation by humans, driven by increasing population and commercial interests, leads to the extinction of certain species.

• Invasion by alien species, either as predators or competitors, can disrupt existing ecosystems and result in the extinction of native species.